The Aluminum Association, Arlington, Virginia, has disclosed initial estimations of the domestic as well as transnational demand for the aluminium industry in North America (US and Canada) increased by 4.6 per cent through the first three quarters of 2024.
The association’s ‘Aluminum Situation’ report stated that the non-ferrous metal’s demand across the US and Canada (shipments by domestic producers plus imports) totalled approximately 20,712 million pounds from January to September of 2024 when compared with 19,798 million pounds in the identical months of 2023. Sheet and plate products witnessed a considerable Y-o-Y growth at 6.9 per cent, while foil, extrusions and electrical products showed descents.
Among the AL products, the semi-fabricated, or ‘mill’ variants market leapt 2.5 per cent in a year’s span through the first nine months ending in the third quarter and imported aluminium and aluminium products decreased by 8 per cent over the stipulated period. Aluminium exported to foreign countries (apart from scrap) increased 23.3 per cent in the third quarter.
At 107.13, the Index of Net New Orders of aluminium mill products (baseline index of 100) by the association heightened by 1.2 per cent over 2023’s figure through November.
“This continued demand growth reflects the aluminium industry’s strength and ability to compete in a dynamic marketplace,” says Charles Johnson, president and CEO of the Aluminum Association. “While there may be some uncertainty ahead, aluminium will continue to be a critical material used to build a stronger, more sustainable America, and the industry stands ready to deliver.”
Aluminium demand in the United States and Canada (domestic production and imports) totalled an estimated 14,056 million pounds through the first half of 2024, advancing 5.2 per cent over the H1 2023 total of 13,365 million pounds.
In total, semi-fabricated – or ‘mill’ – product demand remained largely steady year-over-year through Q2. Sheet and plate demand rose 7.5 per cent year-over-year through Q2, while foil, extruded products and electrical markets showed declines. Aluminium exports (excluding scrap) to foreign countries are up 25.6 per cent year-to-date.
At 105.97, the Association’s Index of Net New Orders of Aluminum Mill Products (baseline index of 100) increased by 1.1 per cent through June. Imported upstream aluminium plus aluminium semi-finished and finished products into North America (US and Canada) have decreased 14 per cent year-to-date.
In the past decade, Aluminum Association's partner companies announced more than US$10 billion in intra-country manufacturing operations which comprises of new, US-based greenfield establishments for the first time after the 1980s. Aluminium is growing thanks to increased demand for sustainable packaging, safe and efficient vehicles, greener buildings and vital infrastructure.
The Aluminum Association, which represents companies that produce around 70 per cent of the primary aluminium as well as downstream products shipped in North America, released a new policy brief in December 2024 with an outline of strategic priorities for the incoming US administration and Congress. The brief, titled ‘Aluminum for America,’ calls for a national strategy to prioritise, produce, and defend critical materials like aluminium. According to a recent economic impact study, the US aluminium industry generates nearly £173 billion in direct and indirect economic influence and supports close to 700,000 jobs, including 164,000 direct industry jobs. Despite this, the US primary aluminium production is on a downward slope, while the industry has invested over £7.6 billion in mid- and downstream processing and recycling capacity over the last decade.
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